7 Tips For Surviving Your First Winter On Campus

Ugh. Winter. It's all fun and cute when you have a new crop of sweaters to wear, but that wears off as soon as the snow goes from fluffy white to dirty, depressing gray. Surviving the winter is hard for anyone who values a normal body temperature, but it's especially difficult for college students. Snow days are nonexistent, we have to walk anywhere we want to go and hats ruin our hair. Oh, and don't even get us started on the effects of cold weather on our skin. Or the hours spent bundling up to go outside only to start sweating profusely ten minutes into lecture. Gah! It just makes you want to stay in bed with a hot cocoa and call it a day. Unfortunately, that's not possible so we are forced to adapt to the college winter. But CollegeCandy has 7 tips to surviving winter unscathed.

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1. Take a tissue with you everywhere: Prevent "snot mitten" (or worse, "hard paper towel nose") by being prepared by storing a handy pack of tissues in every pocket and bag you own.

2. Vaseline is your best friend: Before bed, slather it all over your hands and feet and pop on a pair of fluffy gloves and socks. Then, let the greasy ointment sooth your dry, rough skin as you sleep. Hand cream is great for on the go (you don't want that hot guy to reach for your hand and feel scales), but Vaseline is the stuff dreams/soft hands are made of.

3. Velour is not just for Juicy Couture hoodies: Velour leggings, sweats and tunics are great for the winter because the fabric is thick and plush enough to keep your warm without a whole lot of bulk. Eliminate the extra layers by incorporating some velour into your wardrobe.

4. Carry an extra pair of socks: Even those Uggs fail us sometimes. Chances are, a few minutes in the melty slush that pools at street corners, you'll be left with soggy socks. Stash an extra dry pair in your bag just in case. When your feet are warm, your whole body will have an easier time adjusting to the cold.

5. Black tights are the new black: You can pair virtually any of your warm-weather dresses or shorts over a pair of black tights for a winter-weather appropriate look. Bonus: If it's extra cold out, layering tights under your pants give you an extra layer of protection against the biting wind.

6. Invest in a good "party coat": The cheaper the better. This coat will be your go-to for parties, so you don't have to risk ruining or losing that pricey North Face puffy coat and facing the wrath of your parents. It doesn't have to be cute, it just has to be warm enough to get you from point A (your dorm) to point B (party town).

7. Layer, layer, layer: It might be -12 degrees outside, but chances are it's 109 in class. Avoid those nasty pit stains with some smart layering. Our ideal combo: tank or tee, cardigan, cute scarf. Depending on the temp, you can add or remove layers as needed. Oh, and fingerless gloves are awesome if you've got perpetually cold hands; you can keep 'em warm while still having the dexterity to do whatever you need.

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